Bill Summary & Status for the 106th Congress

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H.R.1248
Sponsor: Rep Morella, Constance A.(introduced 3/24/1999)
Related Bills: H.R.3244, S.2787
Latest Major Action: 9/27/2000 Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 834.
Title: To prevent violence against women.
Jump to: Titles, Status, Committees, Related Bill Details, Amendments, Cosponsors, Summary
TITLE(S):  (italics indicate a title for a portion of a bill)
STATUS: (color indicates Senate actions)

          See also: Related House Committee Documents (Floor Actions/Congressional Record Page References)
3/24/1999:
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
3/24/1999:
Referred to House Judiciary
4/7/1999:
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.
9/29/1999:
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
5/11/2000:
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
5/11/2000:
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.
6/21/2000:
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
6/27/2000:
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
6/27/2000:
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
3/24/1999:
Referred to House Education and the Workforce
4/16/1999:
Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families.
3/24/1999:
Referred to House Commerce
4/12/1999:
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
9/26/2000 12:26pm:
Mr. Hyde moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
9/26/2000 12:26pm:
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8086-8107)
9/26/2000 1:13pm:
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 106-891, Part I.
9/26/2000 1:13pm:
House Committee on Education and the Workforce Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Sept. 26, 2000.
9/26/2000 1:13pm:
House Committee on Commerce Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Sept. 26, 2000.
9/26/2000 1:14pm:
Committee on Education and the Workforce discharged.
9/26/2000 1:14pm:
Committee on Commerce discharged.
9/26/2000 1:14pm:
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 539.
9/26/2000 1:28pm:
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
9/26/2000 2:01pm:
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H8106-8107)
9/26/2000 2:09pm:
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 415 - 3 (Roll no. 491). (text: CR H8086-8093)
9/26/2000 2:09pm:
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
9/27/2000:
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 834.
COMMITTEE(S):
RELATED BILL DETAILS:  (additional related bills may be indentified in Status)

AMENDMENT(S):

***NONE***

COSPONSORS(239), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]:     (Sort: by date)

Rep Abercrombie, Neil - 4/12/1999 Rep Ackerman, Gary L. - 2/2/2000
Rep Allen, Thomas H. - 4/15/1999 Rep Andrews, Robert E. - 9/9/1999
Rep Baca, Joe - 5/4/2000 Rep Baird, Brian - 5/10/1999
Rep Baldacci, John Elias - 5/14/1999 Rep Baldwin, Tammy - 4/20/1999
Rep Barrett, Thomas M. - 4/27/1999 Rep Bass, Charles F. - 5/8/2000
Rep Bentsen, Ken - 4/20/1999 Rep Bereuter, Doug - 7/27/2000
Rep Berkley, Shelley - 3/24/1999 Rep Berman, Howard L. - 5/17/1999
Rep Biggert, Judy - 3/24/1999 Rep Bilbray, Brian P. - 10/20/1999
Rep Bilirakis, Michael - 7/10/2000 Rep Bishop, Sanford D. Jr. - 10/20/1999
Rep Blagojevich, Rod R. - 9/6/2000 Rep Blumenauer, Earl - 4/20/1999
Rep Boehlert, Sherwood L. - 4/15/1999 Rep Bonior, David E. - 5/10/1999
Rep Bono, Mary - 6/28/2000 Rep Borski, Robert A. - 4/12/1999
Rep Boswell, Leonard L. - 5/18/2000 Rep Boucher, Rick - 3/24/1999
Rep Brady, Kevin - 4/27/1999 Rep Brady, Robert - 6/14/1999
Rep Brown, Corrine - 4/12/1999 Rep Brown, George E., Jr. - 5/18/1999
Rep Brown, Sherrod - 4/12/1999 Rep Burton, Dan - 10/14/1999
Rep Calvert, Ken - 6/15/1999 Rep Capps, Lois - 4/12/1999
Rep Capuano, Michael E. - 5/14/1999 Rep Cardin, Benjamin L. - 4/27/1999
Rep Carson, Julia - 3/24/1999 Rep Castle, Michael N. - 9/25/2000
Rep Christensen, Donna MC - 5/14/1999 Rep Clayton, Eva M. - 4/27/1999
Rep Clement, Bob - 11/17/1999 Rep Clyburn, James E. - 9/13/1999
Rep Condit, Gary A. - 6/28/2000 Rep Conyers, John, Jr. - 9/9/1999
Rep Cook, Merrill - 9/13/1999 Rep Cooksey, John - 4/15/1999
Rep Costello, Jerry F. - 6/12/2000 Rep Coyne, William J. - 6/6/2000
Rep Cramer, Robert E. (Bud) Jr. - 9/25/2000 Rep Crowley, Joseph - 4/12/1999
Rep Cubin, Barbara - 3/24/1999 Rep Cummings, Elijah E. - 4/20/1999
Rep Danner, Pat - 3/24/1999 Rep Davis, Danny K. - 5/11/1999
Rep Deal, Nathan - 5/18/2000 Rep DeFazio, Peter A. - 5/11/1999
Rep DeGette, Diana - 3/24/1999 Rep Delahunt, William D. - 4/12/1999
Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. - 5/10/1999 Rep Deutsch, Peter - 7/1/1999
Rep Dixon, Julian C. - 9/25/2000 Rep Doyle, Michael F. - 9/6/2000
Rep Dunn, Jennifer - 9/22/1999 Rep Ehlers, Vernon J. - 9/12/2000
Rep Emerson, Jo Ann - 9/28/1999 Rep Engel, Eliot L. - 5/24/2000
Rep Eshoo, Anna G. - 7/12/1999 Rep Etheridge, Bob - 3/24/1999
Rep Evans, Lane - 2/29/2000 Rep Everett, Terry - 6/21/2000
Rep Faleomavaega, Eni F. H. - 4/27/1999 Rep Farr, Sam - 4/27/1999
Rep Filner, Bob - 4/15/1999 Rep Fletcher, Ernest L. - 5/24/2000
Rep Foley, Mark - 5/14/1999 Rep Ford, Harold, Jr. - 11/9/1999
Rep Fowler, Tillie - 3/24/1999 Rep Frank, Barney - 5/8/2000
Rep Franks, Bob - 6/9/1999 Rep Frelinghuysen, Rodney P. - 4/20/1999
Rep Frost, Martin - 4/12/1999 Rep Gallegly, Elton - 9/11/2000
Rep Ganske, Greg - 7/27/2000 Rep Gejdenson, Sam - 3/14/2000
Rep Gephardt, Richard A. - 9/6/2000 Rep Gilchrest, Wayne T. - 4/27/1999
Rep Gilman, Benjamin A. - 3/24/1999 Rep Gonzalez, Charles A. - 9/11/2000
Rep Gordon, Bart - 9/11/2000 Rep Granger, Kay - 3/24/1999
Rep Green, Gene - 5/14/1999 Rep Green, Mark - 6/15/2000
Rep Greenwood, James C. - 9/12/2000 Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. - 11/1/1999
Rep Hall, Ralph M. - 6/7/2000 Rep Hall, Tony P. - 7/27/2000
Rep Hastings, Alcee L. - 4/15/1999 Rep Hilliard, Earl F. - 9/9/1999
Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. - 4/12/1999 Rep Hinojosa, Ruben - 5/10/1999
Rep Hoeffel, Joseph M. - 5/10/1999 Rep Holden, Tim - 6/29/2000
Rep Holt, Rush D. - 11/17/1999 Rep Hooley, Darlene - 5/4/2000
Rep Horn, Stephen - 5/18/2000 Rep Houghton, Amo - 7/27/2000
Rep Hoyer, Steny H. - 10/14/1999 Rep Hulshof, Kenny C. - 11/1/1999
Rep Inslee, Jay - 3/24/1999 Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila - 4/12/1999
Rep Jefferson, William J. - 4/15/1999 Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice - 3/24/1999
Rep Johnson, Nancy L. - 3/24/1999 Rep Jones, Stephanie Tubbs - 3/24/1999
Rep Kaptur, Marcy - 4/15/1999 Rep Kelly, Sue W. - 3/24/1999
Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. - 4/15/1999 Rep Kildee, Dale E. - 6/12/2000
Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. - 5/18/1999 Rep Kind, Ron - 4/12/1999
Rep Kleczka, Gerald D. - 5/24/2000 Rep Kolbe, Jim - 9/9/1999
Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. - 9/28/1999 Rep Kuykendall, Steven T. - 9/9/1999
Rep LaFalce, John J. - 5/14/1999 Rep LaHood, Ray - 9/6/2000
Rep Lampson, Nick - 10/20/1999 Rep Lantos, Tom - 3/24/1999
Rep Larson, John B. - 9/17/1999 Rep LaTourette, Steve C. - 6/21/2000
Rep Leach, James A. - 3/24/1999 Rep Lee, Barbara - 5/18/2000
Rep Levin, Sander M. - 9/25/2000 Rep Lewis, John - 4/20/1999
Rep Lipinski, William O. - 7/26/1999 Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. - 4/12/1999
Rep Lofgren, Zoe - 3/24/1999 Rep Lowey, Nita M. - 4/12/1999
Rep Lucas, Ken - 7/10/2000 Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. - 3/24/1999
Rep Maloney, James H. - 4/15/1999 Rep Markey, Edward J. - 4/15/1999
Rep Martinez, Matthew G. - 6/9/1999 Rep Matsui, Robert T. - 3/24/1999
Rep McCarthy, Carolyn - 5/24/1999 Rep McCarthy, Karen - 7/27/2000
Rep McDermott, Jim - 6/22/1999 Rep McGovern, James P. - 4/12/1999
Rep McKinney, Cynthia A. - 3/24/1999 Rep McNulty, Michael R. - 3/24/1999
Rep Meehan, Martin T. - 5/4/2000 Rep Meek, Carrie P. - 5/14/1999
Rep Millender-McDonald, Juanita - 5/11/1999 Rep Miller, George - 4/12/1999
Rep Mink, Patsy T. - 5/10/1999 Rep Moakley, John Joseph - 7/27/2000
Rep Moore, Dennis - 4/20/1999 Rep Moran, James P. - 7/26/1999
Rep Moran, Jerry - 7/26/1999 Rep Myrick, Sue - 3/24/1999
Rep Nadler, Jerrold - 4/15/1999 Rep Napolitano, Grace F. - 9/9/1999
Rep Neal, Richard E. - 9/9/1999 Rep Northup, Anne - 5/25/1999
Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes - 3/24/1999 Rep Olver, John W. - 11/4/1999
Rep Ose, Doug - 7/27/2000 Rep Owens, Major R. - 5/18/2000
Rep Oxley, Michael G. - 9/11/2000 Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. - 5/18/1999
Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. - 2/2/2000 Rep Pastor, Ed - 6/10/1999
Rep Payne, Donald M. - 5/17/1999 Rep Pelosi, Nancy - 9/9/1999
Rep Peterson, Collin C. - 6/15/2000 Rep Pomeroy, Earl - 4/27/1999
Rep Porter, John Edward - 2/29/2000 Rep Price, David E. - 10/6/1999
Rep Pryce, Deborah - 4/20/1999 Rep Quinn, Jack - 6/12/2000
Rep Rahall, Nick J., II - 10/7/1999 Rep Rangel, Charles B. - 3/24/1999
Rep Reyes, Silvestre - 7/1/1999 Rep Rivers, Lynn N. - 6/15/2000
Rep Rodriguez, Ciro - 5/10/1999 Rep Rogan, James E. - 9/11/2000
Rep Romero-Barcelo, Carlos A. - 9/9/1999 Rep Rothman, Steve R. - 4/27/1999
Rep Roukema, Marge - 4/15/1999 Rep Roybal-Allard, Lucille - 4/12/1999
Rep Royce, Edward R. - 9/11/2000 Rep Rush, Bobby L. - 5/11/1999
Rep Sabo, Martin Olav - 9/6/2000 Rep Sanchez, Loretta - 7/26/1999
Rep Sanders, Bernard - 4/15/1999 Rep Sandlin, Max - 10/7/1999
Rep Saxton, Jim - 4/13/2000 Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. - 4/27/1999
Rep Serrano, Jose E. - 9/25/2000 Rep Sessions, Pete - 3/16/2000
Rep Shays, Christopher - 3/24/1999 Rep Sherman, Brad - 9/25/2000
Rep Shimkus, John - 6/12/2000 Rep Shows, Ronnie - 3/24/1999
Rep Simpson, Michael K. - 9/11/2000 Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh - 9/13/1999
Rep Smith, Adam - 9/6/2000 Rep Smith, Christopher H. - 9/6/2000
Rep Smith, Lamar - 5/4/2000 Rep Snyder, Vic - 6/28/2000
Rep Spratt, John M., Jr. - 4/12/1999 Rep Stark, Fortney Pete - 5/24/2000
Rep Strickland, Ted - 5/25/2000 Rep Talent, James M. - 5/20/1999
Rep Tauscher, Ellen O. - 9/23/1999 Rep Taylor, Charles H. - 9/6/2000
Rep Thompson, Bennie G. - 7/27/2000 Rep Thompson, Mike - 10/5/1999
Rep Thurman, Karen L. - 5/20/1999 Rep Tierney, John F. - 5/4/2000
Rep Towns, Edolphus - 4/12/1999 Rep Turner, Jim - 10/14/1999
Rep Udall, Mark - 10/14/1999 Rep Udall, Tom - 5/20/1999
Rep Upton, Fred - 7/27/2000 Rep Walsh, James T. - 7/11/2000
Rep Waters, Maxine - 9/9/1999 Rep Watkins, Wes - 4/15/1999
Rep Watt, Melvin L. - 2/2/2000 Rep Waxman, Henry A. - 3/24/1999
Rep Weiner, Anthony D. - 4/12/1999 Rep Wexler, Robert - 9/9/1999
Rep Weygand, Robert A. - 4/27/1999 Rep Whitfield, Ed - 6/21/2000
Rep Wilson, Heather - 3/24/1999 Rep Wise, Robert E., Jr. - 5/20/1999
Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. - 4/12/1999 Rep Wu, David - 4/13/2000
Rep Wynn, Albert Russell - 4/27/1999

SUMMARY AS OF:
9/26/2000--Passed House, amended.    (There is 1 other summary)

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Violence Against Women Act of 2000- Title I: Continuing the Commitment of the Violence Against Women Act - Subtitle A: Law Enforcement and Prosecution Grants to Combat Violence Against Women - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (the Act) to authorize appropriations for FY 2001 through 2005 for grants to combat violent crimes against women.

(Sec. 102) Revises grant allocation guidelines governing prosecution grants, victims' services, and State court systems.

Expands grant purposes to include: (1) training that addresses sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, and dating violence for State, local, and tribal judicial personnel;(2) training of sexual assault forensic medical personnel examiners; and (3) support for the development of sexual assault response teams. Provides that grants may be used for reporting violent crimes against women data to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

Directs the Attorney General to deny State grant applications that fail to provide documentation of collaborative efforts with other agencies or organizations.

Redefines "victims' services" to include advocacy and assistance for victims seeking legal, social, and health care services.

Includes as a prerequisite for Federal reimbursement of forensic medical exams of victims of sexual assault that the participating governmental entity notify all victims that such reimbursement is neither contingent upon the victim's report to law enforcement officials, nor upon the victim's cooperation in the prosecution of the assault.

(Sec. 103) Directs the Attorney General to make grants to State domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions for purposes of coordinating with: (1) victim services activities; and (2) Federal, State, and local entities engaged in violence-against-women activities.

(Sec. 104) Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to States, Indian tribal governments, and local government units to provide technical and computer assistance to facilitate widespread enforcement of protection orders, including interstate enforcement, enforcement between States and tribal jurisdictions, and enforcement between tribal jurisdictions.

Instructs the Attorney General to give priority to grant applicants that: (1) have established, or can demonstrate effective ongoing collaborative arrangements with neighboring jurisdictions to facilitate enforcement of protection orders; and (2) will give priority to using the grant to develop data collection and communication systems linking police, prosecutors, courts, and tribal jurisdictions for identification and tracking of protection orders.

Revises eligible grantee criteria to include grantee certification that its laws, policies, and practices do not require a victim of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault to bear the costs associated with either a protection order or criminal protection order.

(Sec. 106) Amends the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 to direct the Attorney General to: (1) make grants to law school clinical programs to fund the inclusion of cases addressing issues of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including domestic violence, and sexual assault against older individuals; and (2) develop curricula and provide for training programs in those issues for law enforcement officers and prosecutors (including tribal authorities). Authorizes appropriations.

Subtitle B: National Domestic Violence Hotline - Amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) to authorize increased appropriations for the national domestic violence hotline grant. Requires grantees to submit a grant evaluation report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the HHS Secretary) for publication and public comment as a prerequisite to a grant award or renewal.

Subtitle C: Battered Women's Shelters and Services - Battered Women's Shelters and Services Act - Amends the FVPSA to authorize appropriations for State grants. Modifies guidelines governing: (1) allotment of appropriations; (2) grants for information and technical assistance centers; and (3) authorization of appropriations.

(Sec. 123) Instructs the HHS Secretary to award grants for: (1) State domestic violence coalitions and local domestic violence programs providing shelter or related assistance, in order to develop model strategies to address domestic violence in underserved populations; (2) each State domestic violence coalition for an emergency assistance fund for domestic violence victims; (3) technical assistance and training for State and local domestic violence programs; and (4) private, nonprofit, tribal domestic violence coalitions with representatives from a majority of the programs for victims of domestic violence operating within Indian reservations, and programs whose primary focus is the populations of such Indian country.

(Sec. 124) Instructs the Attorney General to award transitional housing assistance grants to States, local government entities, and Indian tribes for victims of domestic violence. Authorizes appropriations.

Subtitle D: Community Initiatives - Authorizes appropriations for demonstration grants for community initiatives.

Subtitle E: Education and Training for Judges and Court Personnel - Amends the Equal Justice for Women in the Courts Act of 1994 to permit training grants for judges and court personnel to include: (1) child custody, visitation, and safety issues raised by domestic violence and child sexual assault; and (2) the extent to which addressing domestic violence and victim safety contributes to the efficient administration of justice.

(Sec. 141) Expands the scope of State Justice Institute grants to include dating violence.

Subtitle F: Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies - Amends the Act to reauthorize appropriations to implement the functions of the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

(Sec. 152) Mandates that at least five percent of appropriated funds be used for grants to Indian tribal governments to treat domestic violence as a serious violation of criminal law.

Subtitle G: Rural Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Enforcement - Amends the Safe Homes for Women Act of 1994 to authorize appropriations for rural domestic violence and child abuse enforcement. Mandates that five percent of such funds be used for grants to Indian tribal governments.

Subtitle H: National Stalker and Domestic Violence Reduction - Amends the Safe Homes for Women Act of 1994 to authorize appropriations for grants to enter stalking and domestic violence data into crime information databases.

Subtitle I: Federal Victims' Counselors - Amends the Safe Streets for Women Act of 1994 to authorize appropriations for the United States Attorneys to appoint Victim-Witness counselors for the prosecution of domestic violence and sexual assault crimes.

Subtitle J: Victims of Child Abuse Programs - Amends the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 to authorize appropriations for: (1) the court-appointed special advocate program; and (2) child abuse training programs for judicial personnel and practitioners.

(Sec. 193) Amends the Act to authorize appropriations for grants for closed-circuit televising of testimony of child abuse victims.

Title II: Sexual Assault Prevention - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the use of certain State funds exclusively for rape prevention and education programs conducted by rape crisis centers and private nonprofit nongovernmental State and tribal sexual assault coalitions for specified programs.

(Sec. 201) Instructs the HHS Secretary to establish a National Resource Center on Sexual Assault when appropriations reach a specified minimum level. Mandates that State grantors ensure that at least 25 percent of the funds are devoted to educational programs targeted for middle school, junior high, and high school aged students. Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 203) Mandates that demonstration projects which address interpersonal violence issues within a hospital emergency setting include, on a 24-hour basis, health care professionals trained in specified victim identification and evidence collection protocols.

Title III: Other Domestic Violence Programs - Subtitle A: Strengthening Services to Victims of Violence - Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to provide civil legal assistance to victims of domestic and dating violence. Authorizes appropriations.

Subtitle B: Limiting the Effects of Violence on Children - Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to public or private nonprofit nongovernmental entities to establish and operate supervised visitation and safe visitation exchange of children by and between parents in cases of domestic violence, child abuse, or sexual assault. Authorizes appropriations.

Subtitle C: Protections Against Violence and Abuse for Women with Disabilities - Makes the protection of women with disabilities eligible for grants and research under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 and the Equal Justice for Women in the Courts Act of 1994.

(Sec. 313) Directs the Attorney General to establish a grants program for States, nongovernmental private entities, and tribal organizations to provide education and technical assistance for information dissemination on abuse and violence against women with disabilities. Authorizes appropriations.

Subtitle D: Standards, Practice, and Training for Sexual Assault Examinations - Standards, Practice, and Training for Sexual Assault Forensic Examinations Act - Directs the Attorney General, in conjunction with the HHS Secretary, to: (1) evaluate standards of training and practice for licensed health care professionals performing sexual assault forensic examinations, and develop a national recommended training standard; (2) recommend sexual assault examination training for health care students to improve recognition of injuries suggestive of rape and sexual assault; and (3) establish a mechanism for nationwide dissemination of a national protocol on sexual assault for forensic examinations. Authorizes appropriations.

Subtitle E: Domestic Violence Task Force - Amends the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 to direct the Attorney General to establish a task force to coordinate research on domestic violence and report to Congress on any overlapping or duplication of efforts on domestic violence issues. Authorizes appropriations.